the late PHSC member Ro Walker, Ron collected microscopes, Zeiss cameras, and optical books
Toronto. We lost Ron in 2002. He and wife Joan were PHSC members and frequent volunteers. I personally enjoyed Ron’s deep knowledge of microscopes as myself, he, and editor EvRoseborough were also microscope collectors and members of the rather short lived HMSC founded by another PHSC member Fritz Shulze of Zeiss Canada.
When Ron passed in January of 2002, His obituary was written and printed a few months later in volume 27-5 of the journal from a PHSC perspective:
“After a long and courageous battle with cancer member Ron Walker succumbed peacefully in his sleep at age 79. Beloved husband of Joan Wrigley Tudge, the couple were frequent volunteers at PHSC events.
“Ron served as a Flight Lieutenant with the RCAF during the Second World War and as a Captain with Trans Canada Air Lines/Air Canada until his retirement in 1983.
“A specialist in collecting microscopes he assembled a library of classic works on his chosen instrument and set up an enviable workshop with lathe and milling machines to restore his found treasures to pristine working condition.
“His quests took him to England, Europe and America to seek out acquisitions or to examine museum specimens before beginning restoration on a similar piece in Canada.
“Ron was featured in Photographic Canadiana, Sept/Oct 1993 in a ‘Meet the Collector’ article and was part of a speakers panel during a ‘Micro Night’.
“Mr. Walker equally served his community as a longtime Commissioner with the Streetsville Public Utilities Commission and Hydro Mississauga. He was honoured with the President’s Citation by the Ontario Municipal Electrical Association for his distinguished contributions to the MEA and the electricity industry.
“With his expertise in optics he was called upon as consultant to IMAX.”
